Essay - Life Span Development Introduction: Interviewing an Elderly Person Proves a...

Life Span Development

Introduction:

Interviewing an elderly person proves a very effective insight ********** overview into life span development. By posing the appropriate questions one can elicit information and insight as to how certain aspects and influences change life development over time.

The interview I conducted was with ***** grandfather of a close friend. He is 87 ye*****rs of age. Although I had some knowledge of the interviewee ***** was astounded to find out the amount of information concerning life development that could be gleaned for a well structured interview.

The focus of my interview was on the way that certain aspects and events had affected ***** ***** development of the individual in question. In other words, my aim was to ascertain through the interview ********** which events and circumstance had been 'life-changing', in both a psychologic*****l and sociological sense. In order to limit ***** interview to a reasonable *****, I also decided to ***** more on socio-cultural developmental ***** and on the *****s later years and developmental issues after sixty years of age. Furthermore, aspects ***** were highlighted in the interview ***** researched to ascertain if there were references in the literature to *****se *****.

The questi*****s that I asked feel ***** the following main categories.

***** about his earlier life and influences on development - such as environment, family, **********, etc.

***** relating ***** central ***** factors that had influenced him as an adult

Questions relating to life ***** 60.

My central trajectory or method in ***** ********** ***** allowing the interviewee to expand on certain imp*****tant aspects and to direct the interview in certa***** areas, *****out limiting the individuals' self expression. ***** wanted to focus on issues which he saw as ***** to his ***** development.

A began with ***** in his early youth and developmental *****. Many of the common fac*****rs ***** determine any individual's life were obvious. This includes the fact that his early developmental years had ***** influenced by severe pecuniary difficulties, ***** he had grown up under hard financial conditions in t***** 1930s. T***** has had a m*****rked effect on his later development ***** terms ***** ***** outlook on the world ***** his sense of self-worth.

***** aspect that emerged for the interview was the influence and the importance ***** peers ***** culture in his *****. He stated that he regretted very little in his life except the way ***** he had succumb to t***** nega*****ive influences of peer pressure and ***** groups. ***** confided in me that for m***** years and well into his early thirties he had been an alcoholic and that his drinking problem ***** its origins in ***** desire ***** peer approval ***** that this related to ***** of self-worth. This aspect will be further elaborated on in the following secti*****.

However, what was also especially interesting in the ***** was the response ***** the last set ***** questions directed at his life after sixty. I asked him about ***** ***** older people are often stereotyped and prejudiced against